2. The attention of the reader is called to the name of the Orphan Establishment. It is called the "New Orphan-House." I particularly request that the friends of the Institution will use this name and earnestly beg, in order to avoid mistake, that it may not be called the "Orphan Asylum," as there is about half a mile from the spot, where the "New Orphan-House" has been erected, another charitable establishment, which has been for many years in existence, called the "Female Orphan Asylum." But most of all I earnestly request, that the New Orphan-House be not called "Mr. Muller's Orphan-House." I have now and then been pained by observing that this appellation has been given to it. I trust that none, who recognise the finger of God in this work, will be sinning against Him by giving to me any measure of that honour, which so manifestly and altogether is only due to Him. The Lord led me to this work. He gave me faith for it. He sustained my faith for it to the end. He provided the means. He remarkably helped me through one difficulty after the other. Had He not upheld me in the midst of them all, I should have been surely overwhelmed by them. Therefore, by His help, I will not sin by taking even in the smallest degree that honour to myself, which entirely belongs to Him; and let none be sinning, by giving the least degree of this honour to me, or admiring me, instead of honouring and admiring the Lord.
3. The New Orphan-House was placed in the hands of eleven trustees, chosen by me. The deeds were enrolled in Chancery.
4. The New Orphan-House is fitted up for the accommodation of 140 Orphan Girls above seven years of age, 80 Orphan Boys above seven years, and 80 male and female Orphans from their earliest days, till they are about seven or eight years of age. The infants, after having passed the age of seven or eight years, are removed into the different departments for older boys and girls.
5. The New Orphan-House is open to visitors every Wednesday afternoon; but the arrangements of the establishment make it needful, that it should be shown only at that time. No exceptions can be made.—The first party of visitors is shown through the House at half-past two o'clock precisely, God permitting the second at three o'clock; and, should there be need for it, the third and last party at half-past three o'clock.—As it takes at least one hour and a half to see the whole establishment, it is requested that visitors will be pleased to make their arrangements accordingly, before they come, as it would be inconvenient, should one or the other leave, before the whole party has seen the House.—From March 1st to Nov. 1st there may be three parties shown through the House every Wednesday afternoon; but from Nov. 1st to March 1st only two parties can be accommodated, on account of the shortness of the days.
6. Persons who desire to make application for the admission of Orphans are requested to write to me and address the letter to my house, No. 21, Paul Street, Kingsdown, Bristol.
7. Without any one having been personally applied to for anything by me, the sum of 33,868l. 11s. 1 ¼ d. was given to me for the Orphans, as the result of prayer to God, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1850.—It may be also interesting to the reader to know that the total amount, which was given as free contributions, for the other objects, from the commencement of the work up to May 26, 1850, amounted to 10,531l. 3s. 3 ¾ d.; and that which came in by the sale of Bibles and Tracts, and by the payments of the children in the schools, up to May 26, 1850, amounted to 2,707l. 9s. 3 ½ d.—Besides this also a great variety and number of articles of clothing, furniture, provisions, &c., were given for the use of the Orphans.
8. The total of the current expenses for the Orphans from May 26, 1848, to May 26, 1849, was 1,559l. 6s. 9d., and the total of the current expenses for them from May 26, 1849, to May 26, 1850, was only 2,665l. 13s. 2 ¾ d., i.e. only about Eleven Hundred Pounds more than the previous year. To avoid misunderstanding, I would request the reader to keep in mind that, though there were above 300 persons connected with the New Orphan-House, on May 26, 1850, and only about 130 in the rented Orphan Houses in Wilson Street, yet above three weeks of the second year the children were still in Wilson Street, and five weeks afterwards we had only those children who came from Wilson Street into the New Orphan-House; and even when we began to receive fresh Orphans, they came in only four, five, six, seven, or eight a-week, so that only by little and little our expenses increased.—It is also needful, in order to have a correct view of the expenses connected with the Orphans, to take into account the presents in rice, bread, coals, calico, print, shoes, &c., worth about 200l., which were given during these two years.
Matters connected with my own personal affairs, from May 26, 1848, to
May 26, 1850.
Dec. 31, 1848. During this year the Lord was pleased to give me
1. By anonymous offerings in money, put up in paper, directed to me, and put into the boxes for the poor saints or the rent, at the two chapels. . . . . £156 7 1